HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0083.004 2012-2014 January 23, 2013
My name is Amy Hamane and I am here as a Board member of the Hilo Medical Center Foundation to
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urge you to support resolutionor the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training
Program. Some of you may not be aware that 19 years ago, in 1994, a Family Practice Residency
Program was established here in Hilo in what is now the Kaiser Building near Hilo Medical Center.
Residents from the John A. Burns School of Medicine rotated to Hilo and were supervised by three
faculty physicians. It opened just in time to service the brand new Quest program and on day one, 2000
Quest patients were assigned to the Hilo Family Practice Residency program. It is truly unfortunate that
the Residency program was shut down in 1999 due to funding issues. A great opportunity to train Family
Practice doctors in Hilo was lost at that time...we cannot afford to lose that opportunity again. The
program we are asking you to support today, is much improved and has the potential to improve health
care in rural areas on every island. It is an important investment that we urge you to support. Thank you.
Comm. Ni.o .( __.
Ref. To: �...,_._
Ref. Date JAN 2 3 --201
J.Yoshimoto,Chair
and Members of the Hawaii County Council
January 23,2013
West Hawaii Civic Center,Building A 1. J
Support of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program
HILO MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
As BOARD MEMBERS of the Hilo Medical Center Foundation,we resolve to strengthen the state's provider
workforce through the HHSC Primary Care Training Program(HHSCPCTP).
Support of this program and of family medicine graduate education will generate greater numbers of providers
practicing throughout the islands. We endorse the HHSCPCTP as a Means of Closing the Provider Gap in Hawaii.
Investing in training family practice residents in the neighbor islands is expected to yield a meaningful return on
investment.
• Increasing the number of family practice physicians is expected to decrease the number and rate of
"potentially avoidable hospitalizations,"which the state now pays for through both its Medicaid program
and unreimbursed care by state's public hospital system,Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.
• In rural areas of the state the impact of the Residency Program and greater access to family medicine
physicians is projected to have a profound impact on lowering the costs of treating expensive and
debilitating conditions. For example,diabetes and coronary heart disease have reached epidemic
proportions in Hawaii County compared to Oahu and other areas of the state where there is greater access
to primary care.
• The known economic multiplier effect of additional physicians in Hawaii means each additional physician
is expected to generate 5 new jobs and new tax revenue.(Source: The Lewin Group).
We recognize that the HHSCPCTP uses an advanced model of care delivery that eliminates the need to train or
attract unrealistically high numbers of physicians. The current predominant model of care throughout the country
involves one primary care physician caring for 2,000-2,500 individuals with a small staff,usually including a
medical assistant and receptionist. The team model of care in which the HHSCPCTP is training Hawaii's future
providers allows one physician and their team to care for up to 10,000 patients. Critical team components include a
nurse practitioner or physician assistant and specialists in chronic disease management such as pharmacists,
certified diabetes educators,behavioral health providers, licensed nurses,and well trained non-licensed staff.
We recognize that it is well documented throughout the nation that physicians attending rural training programs are
much more likely to practice in a rural area. More than half of residents trained at rural sites stay and practice in
this setting after they completed their residency. The same can be expected for advanced practice nurses,
psychologists,and clinical pharmacists.
We recognize that a more robust primary care base will attract physicians in other needed specialties to the islands
as they will be guaranteed appropriate referrals. The opportunity to teach residents and other health professions
students on the outer islands will also attract physicians who might otherwise not stay or come to Hawaii.
We strongly urge your support of a resolution for the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training
Program.
Sin ly,
Amy F. amane
Board ember,Hilo Medical Center Foundation